Animal Connection: Which type is right for you?

Pets and Personality

By Sandra Diamond Fox/HealthyLife

Several months ago, Dee Kipp began to cry after getting the news that a good friend of hers had died. Immediately, Byron flew straight to her from his cage. “‘It’s OK. I love you,’ he told me. I picked him up and started petting him, and he made me feel so much better,” Kipp says in a telephone call while attending the weekly social for bird owners and their birds at the Rensselear Bird Center.

Byron is Kipp’s Congo African Grey parrot, which she has owned for 21 years. “Byron has always been very sensitive to what I’m going through. He’s my best friend.” Her favorite expressions used by Byron include “Let’s go out,” “Hey, whatcha doing?” and “Gimme kisses.” She says she believes Byron is the perfect pet for her.

According to Dr. Ruth Loree, a veterinarian at Normanside Veterinary Clinic in Albany, it’s really important for both pet and owner to be compatible. Prior to purchasing a pet, she recommends doing your research to make sure the animal you choose will best suit your lifestyle and personality.

“If you’re deciding about getting a dog, make sure you have time to spend with him or her. Even if you have a full-time job, you should be able to set aside at least an hour or two in the morning and at night — feeding, walking and talking to your dog,” says Loree, who has been in practice for 12 years.

Considering a large dog? Make sure you have plenty of outside space for exercise. “If you’re going to get a puppy, it’s your job to work with this animal. Show him or her you’re in control,” says Mary Lynn Gagnon, co-owner of Pet Estates Inc. with her husband, Don Gagnon. “Set up behavioral situations that are correctable before they become a problem.” In business for 23 years in Melrose, Pet Estates offers boarding, day care, grooming, obedience training and estate planning.

Many people have a misconception about different kinds of dogs, she explains. For example, “a pit bull has a very bad reputation. Yet, they are actually really loyal, intelligent and loving as long as they are properly trained,” Gagnon says.

According to Loree, certain dog are bred to do specific jobs, and it’s important for their owners to provide opportunities to employ their pets’ natural talents whenever possible. “For example, terriers are bred to hunt rodents and small game. They are very active. They like to dig, chase things and play with toys.

“A retriever’s job,” she continues, “is to retrieve birds when they are on the ground. They also like to chase sticks and balls, and need a lot of exercise. If they are kept too confined, they tend to get antsy. They need an outlet for their energy.”

Gagnon says first-time dog owners must make sure they — not the dog — are in control. “You must be committed, firm and repetitious when training a dog, but always kind, using positive reinforcement,” she says.

For prospective pet owners who aren’t home much or are unable to give their pet lots of exercise, Loree recommends a rabbit or cat, pets that don’t require as much physical activity as a dog. Rabbits are gentle creatures that are great as a first pet for children, who can be responsible for their rabbit’s feeding and care with minimal assistance from adults, she says.

Cats are good for people who are housebound and for senior citizens. They are also good for therapy, since petting a cat is calming and nurturing and has been known to lower blood pressure and stress levels, Loree says.

For those curious about a pet snake, it’s important to note that these animals require lots of care. “Snakes require frequent regulation of their temperature and humidity,” Loree says. “They also have diet requirements and feeding schedules. Their diet consists of live rats and mice. I have seen men who choose snakes as pets much more often than women, and I think it’s because of the ‘ick’ factor of the snakes’ diet.”

Even when it comes to birds, “we try to steer people to the type of bird that would be most suitable to their lifestyle and personal preferences,” says Teena LaDuke, owner of the Rensselear Bird Center, which has been in business for 13 years. Aside from selling birds, the center offers boarding, grooming services and bird products.

“People don’t realize how personable birds really are,” LaDuke says. “They think birds are just loud and chirping all the time, when in actuality, they are very loving, caring and devoted pets with individual personalities.” Prior to purchasing a bird, LaDuke encourages customers to visit the bird in the store as often as possible over a period of several months so they can bond and make sure the bird is right for them. At the Rensselaer Bird Center, LaDuke raises baby birds from three weeks of age.

Birds such as Amazon Parrots, African Greys or Mini Macaws like to be part of the household. “They eat with you, sit with you when you’re watching TV, lie on your chest and enjoy having you hold and pet them,” she says.

Want a bird but don’t want it out of its cage? LaDuke recommends a finch, parakeet or canary. “These types of birds don’t like be held or picked up. They prefer not to be cuddled and to stay in their cages.” For families with young children, she recommends a starter bird such as a cockatiel, conure or parakeet, since these birds are small and have small beaks.

“Unfortunately, I have found that a lot of pets don’t suit their owner’s personality and lifestyle, which is what can lead to pets that are homeless and abused,” Gagnon says. “Before you even consider acquiring a pet, you should set out a plan of care that will work for both of you.

“Having a pet can be hard work, but the benefits are great,” she says. “The owner gets a loyal, devoted and loving friend for life.”